Clemson University Forest

There's a phrase we use so often it can start to sound like a slogan: the Clemson Family. Worn smooth by repetition, easy to file away under marketing.
And then a morning like this one arrives to remind you it was never just a phrase.
Today I had the honor of joining Assistant Forest Manager Travis Schmitt and the Clemson Alumni Association to lead a group of Golden Tiger alumni on a waterfall hike through the Clemson University Forest. We walked them through its history, its mission, and the management plan that keeps these acres healthy for the generations still to come.
What struck me most? They were as curious and engaged as any 4-H youth I've ever worked alongside — asking questions, leaning in, noticing the small things. Decades after Clemson shaped them, they came back to these hills to reconnect with the place and with each other.
That's the milestone worth marking. Not the years that have passed, but the proof that the roots still hold.
There really is something in these hills. 🐾

Pics & ponderings by PAWhitener

🚒Attention! A large tree has fallen on Issaqueena Lake Road, and the rain is causing washouts. We have closed the road until further notice. The road, parking areas, and trailheads were cleared. Thank you.🌳

There is a simple gratitude I get when walking a well-worn trail. Trail work weaves ecological science and community-building when viewed through the lens of the Clemson University Forest. It connects the physical work of building and maintaining trails to the larger vision of research, forest management and recreation. We are all following blazes someone else marked, and marking blazes for those who come after. What does your pathway look like today?
Follow the blazes. 🌿
https://blogs.clemson.edu/cuforest/following-the-blazes-trails-community-and-the-web-of-life/

If you enjoy the trails in the Fant's Grove area, please take a moment to give volunteer John Seegers a big "thank you"!

What John took on as a repair project became a restoration project for this bridge on the Red Trail behind the Fant's Grove parking area.

He cleaned off about 3" of mud from the entire deck, replaced three rotten boards, cleaned out all the gaps between boards, cleaned off the end anchors, and opened up the drains.

These actions will extend the life of that bridge for years to come!

The Clemson University Forest relies on volunteers to help maintain the trail system. We are coordinating volunteer groups with projects so if you are interested in helping, let us know.